This beautiful city was a sad reminder of the doomed emperor and his wife. Poor Maximiliano…he had not deserved to die for only doing his duty, but perhaps that could be said of every soldier, even those who were elected president of the country.

And what on earth could Lerdo want with her?

Luna offered no clues to the reason for her summons, save the implication that her father was involved. That would be one reason, of course; wasn’t he backing Lerdo in order to keep his Mexican properties? No doubt he had sent him money as well.

But Lerdo de Tejada wanted more from her than her intercession with the senator; he wanted an escape route.

“It seems that my term as el presidente is coming to a rather precipitate end,” he told her dryly, “and I must make my plans. I wish to go to New York, and Senator Brandon has very graciously agreed to lend his assistance.”

“But el presidente, how can I help?”

“You are also acquainted with Díaz, and your husband was once a captain in his command. I wish to get a message directly to the general, and there are few I can trust to deliver it for me. Every man thinks only of himself at a time like this, and I admit that I am doing the same. When I heard that you were in Mexico again, I implored General Luna to find you for me and ask you to come here.”

“I wasn’t asked, I was abducted,” Ginny said sharply, “and I don’t even know where—where my husband is or if he’s still alive. Luna will tell me nothing. He is detestable.”

Shrugging, Lerdo said, “He is a Spaniard, and they are all very arrogant. I would not have allowed him to be here were it not for the fact that he has high connections in Madrid. Ah, I had thought to make a difference in Mexico, to see my country become wealthy again, as she was long ago.”

Ginny remained silent. She had heard different tales of Lerdo’s rule, of his squandering tax money on personal vices instead of the reforms he touted so highly.

But eventually she found herself agreeing to speak to Porfirio Díaz for him, to secure a safe escort for his retreat from Mexico.

21

A steady pounding thud penetrated slowly into his numb brain. It sounded like the slam of metal against metal, loud and heavy. Steve tried to move, but was pinioned as if by a large object, his arms and legs splayed.

Gradually, he surfaced from the prolonged sleep that had rendered him unconscious, his brain struggling to assimilate the noise with the cause. Panting, he lay still.

Thick, noxious fumes clouded the air, stinging his nose and eyes. He blinked against it. Something struck him on the arm, and he realized that he could move after all, though it was slow and painful.